Softball: St. James falters; CF, Conway, Socastee win

The previously undefeated St. James softball team suffered back-to-back losses in the first two rounds of the Grand Strand Softball Classic.

After falling to Starpoint (NY) by a 5-3 score on Monday for their first defeat of the season, the Lady Sharks (12-2) came out on the short end of a pitchers’ duel with a 2-1 loss to Tallwood (VA).

St. James’ Kelsi Bachmann drove in a run in the fifth inning to break the scoreless tie and give the Lady Sharks a 1-0 lead they carried into the seventh, but Tallwood’s Jenna Bentrick delivered a two-out, two-RBI single for the game-winner.

St. James’ Casey Betts scattered 11 hits over 6 2/3 innings, working her way out of several jams until the seventh to keep the Lady Sharks on top. She struck out six batters and walked only one.

St. James returns to action Wednesday against Whitemor (OH) at 10 a.m. at Pepper Geddings Recreation Center.

* Conway 11, Frewsburg (NY) 6: Conway pitcher Breanna Van Deusen scattered six hits over five innings Tuesday to lead the Lady Tigers to their second straight win in the Grand Strand Softball Classic at Market Common.

Coming off a complete-game victory on Monday, Conway’s Sydny Howell came on in relief in the last two innings to record her first save of the season.

Leading the hitting attack for the Lady Tigers were Brandye Huggins, who went 3-for-3 with a double, and Kady Edwards, who went 2-for-5 with a run scored. Madison Gore, Neci Hemingway, and Van Deusen also supplied hits for Conway.

* Socastee 13, Georgetown 12: The Lady Braves rallied for six runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to upend the visiting Lady Bulldogs.

Socastee’s Kellie Howard went 4-for-4 with three RBIs to help lead the Lady Braves’ comeback. They trailed 9-4 entering the bottom of the sixth and scored three runs in the frame to cut the deficit to two.

Georgetown appeared to put the game away with three runs in the top half of the seventh but Socastee brought six runs across the plate. Blake Smith and Taylor Fitzmaurice had three hits apiece for Socastee.

* Carolina Forest 7, Murray (OH) 0: Emily Merriam pitched a complete-game four-hit shutout and struck out four batters to lead the Lady Panthers (16-1) to a victory over visiting Murray.

Angelina Santoro and Marisa Runyon had two hits apiece and Runyon drove in four runs to lead the Carolina Forest offensive attack.